Sat.Jul 31, 2021 - Fri.Aug 06, 2021

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This is not 2008 all over again for the housing market

Housing Wire

When you hear people say that the current housing market is like 2008 all over again, you may want to remind them of the huge differences between this market and that one. The previous economic expansion, from 2010-2019, wasn’t a housing bubble. Quite the opposite: In that cycle we had the weakest housing recovery ever, even with the lowest mortgage rates during the longest economic expansion ever.

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With Rents on the Rise – Is Now the Time To Buy?

Keeping Current Matters

According to recent data from realtor.com , median rental prices have reached their highest point ever recorded in many areas across the country. The report found rents rose by 8.1% from the same time last year. As it notes: “ Beyond simply recovering to pre-pandemic levels, rents across the country are surging. Typically, rents fluctuate less than 1% from month to month.

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Closing Costs For a Seller: How Much is The Cost to Sell a Home

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

How Much Does it Cost to Sell a House? Do sellers pay closing costs? What are the costs to sell a home? What are the seller’s closing costs? These are all common questions first-time sellers will ask. Most homeowners will want to have a rough idea of the closing costs and associated expenses when selling […]. The post Closing Costs For a Seller: How Much is The Cost to Sell a Home appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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Is It Worth Adding a Powder Room to Your Home? Consider These Things First

Lighter Side of Real Estate

The number of bathrooms in a home can be a major selling point for potential buyers. And, as such, an extra bathroom can make your home more attractive and easier to sell—which is why a lot of homeowners consider adding a half-bath (or “powder room”) to their property. But adding a powder room isn’t necessarily the right renovation project for every homeowner—and before you decide to add bathroom space to your home, there are a few things you’ll want to consider.

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Avoiding Lease Accounting Pitfalls in 2025: Lessons Learned from Spreadsheet Errors

Speaker: Abdi Ali, Sr. Lease Accounting Consultant

Join this insightful webinar with industry expert Abdi Ali, who will discuss the challenges that can arise from managing lease accounting with spreadsheets! He will share real-world examples of errors, compliance issues, and risks that may be present within your spreadsheets. Learn how these tools, while useful, can sometimes lead to inefficiencies that affect your time, resources, and peace of mind.

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Delta variant fears send 30-year mortgage rates to 2.77%

Housing Wire

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped back down to 2.77% for the week ending August 5, according to mortgage rates data released Thursday by Freddie Mac ‘s PMMS. The week prior, mortgage rates had rebounded slightly to 2.80%. According to Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, concerns over the COVID-19 Delta variant, along with lower 10-year Treasury yields, have resulted in lower rates.

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Key Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying a Home

Keeping Current Matters

Sometimes it can feel like everyone has advice when it comes to buying a home. While your friends and loved ones may have your best interests in mind, they may also be missing crucial information about today’s housing market that you need to make your best decision. Before you decide whether you’re ready to buy a home, you should know how to answer these three questions. 1.

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How to Avoid Real Estate Capital Gains Taxes

Realty Biz

If you have decided to sell a house or are in the process of selling it, you need to keep in mind that usually, there are taxes on real estate capital gains. Generally speaking, the higher the price you sell at, the bigger your tax bill from Uncle Sam. Sometimes when you sell your home after a short period of ownership, getting a great price does not mean much when paying capital gains taxes.

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Figure to merge with mortgage lender Homebridge

Housing Wire

The blockchain revolution may soon be coming to mortgage lending. And it could take the form of a very old-school lender – Homebridge Financial Services. The Mike Cagney-led fintech lender Figure Technologies , most recently valued at $3.2 billion, announced Tuesday afternoon that it intends to merge with Homebridge. “We are bringing together the most robust, powerful and efficient technology ever seen in lending and pairing that with a $25 billion a year loan originator with 150,000 customers w

Mortgages 516
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Surprising Shift Favors Homeowners: Buyers Now Prefer Existing Homes

Keeping Current Matters

In April, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) posted an article, Home Buyers’ Preferences Shift Towards New Construction , which reported: “ 60% of people who were looking to buy a home in 2020 said they’d prefer new construction to an existing home. ”. However, it seems buyers are now shifting their preferences back to existing homes.

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How Much Do PODS Cost: POD Moving and Storage Prices Explained

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

POD Storage Pricing Guide Are you wondering about PODS pricing? If you are thinking about using PODS for your move, POD prices will be an important consideration. We will look at the cost of PODS and the things that make up your bill. When moving with PODS, it is essential to have a solid grip […]. The post How Much Do PODS Cost: POD Moving and Storage Prices Explained appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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Driving Profit: 4 Pillars for Growing Your Real Estate Brokerage

In the rapidly changing real estate landscape, achieving profitability requires a strategic approach beyond traditional methods. Our guide, "The 4 Pillars to Brokerage Profitability," outlines four essential pillars for scaling your real estate business: a seamless lead-to-close technology ecosystem, tailored integrated solutions for teams and agents, value-added success services and community support, and consumer-centric operations throughout the full homeownership lifecycle.

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Gerrymandering in Brooklyn Is Out of Control. Here’s How Reform Could Affect Neighborhoods

Brownstoner

New York’s congressional, state senate and assembly districts are set to be redrawn this year, and for the first time in history, everyday New Yorkers have had the chance to weigh in on how they think the districts should be drawn up. The New York Independent Redistricting Commission, the entity tasked… Read More > The post Gerrymandering in Brooklyn Is Out of Control.

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Home prices are still rising, but relief for buyers is coming

Housing Wire

Home prices continue to increase as national inventory levels remain low heading into August. But relief for buyers could be coming in the next 12 months. Home prices increased 2.3% from May to June, and 17.2% year-over-year, according to the latest CoreLogic report on home prices. However, CoreLogic officials said price gains could slow to as low as a 3.2%-gain by this time next year, as ongoing affordability challenges deter potential buyers — as well as an uptick in new for sale listings. 

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Sellers: Make Today’s Home Price Appreciation Work for You

Keeping Current Matters

Home prices continue to rise as we move through the summer, and that’s good news for sellers who are looking to maximize their home’s potential. If you’re on the fence about whether to list your house now or later, the question you should really ask is: will this price appreciation last? Here’s what three leading industry experts have to say about what lies ahead: Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, National Association of Realtors (NAR): “At a broad level, home prices are in no danger of a decline d

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Accepting Backup Offers in Real Estate: What You Should Know

Maximum Exposure Real Estate

What Are Backup Offers in Real Estate? What is a backup offer in real estate? How do Backup offers work? Some excellent questions for those buyers who have lost out on their dream home! When buying a home, will writing a backup contract make sense? How about when selling a house? A backup offer is […]. The post Accepting Backup Offers in Real Estate: What You Should Know appeared first on Massachusetts Real Estate Exposure.

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Tech-Forward Strategies for Scaling Agent Efficiency & Accelerating Growth

As the real estate market evolves, technology has become essential for success. According to NAR, only 26% of agents feel their brokerage provides the necessary tech tools and, as a result, agents seek teams and brokerages who prioritize technology investments! Whether you manage an established team or are forming a new one, this guide outlines key considerations and necessary applications to thrive.

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Inside a Sophisticated Wine Country Aerie

Sotheby's International Real Estate

In ancient mythology, Aurora, the goddess of dawn, would dance across the sky announcing the arrival of the sun each day. An address on Aurora Lane, then, feels fitting for this one-of-a-kind home, which with its southern orientation and walls of glass revels sunlight from morning till night. Glen Ellen, California | Charles Lamp, Gina Clyde, and Courtney Keating, Sotheby’s International Realty – Wine Country – First Street Brokerage.

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30-year rate drops below 3% for first time since February

Housing Wire

Mortgage applications fell 1.7% in the week ending July 30, according to the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. That’s despite the 30-year fixed rate falling to its lowest level in roughly six months. It’s an about-face from the prior week, in which applications increased 5.7% on the strength of descending mortgage rates.

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Ready To Sell, but Don’t Know Where You’ll Go? [INFOGRAPHIC]

Keeping Current Matters

Some Highlights. If you’re thinking of selling your house but don’t know what you should buy, you have options. Existing homes offer a wide variety of home styles, an established neighborhood, and lived-in charm. Meanwhile, new home construction lets you create your perfect home, cash in on energy efficiency, and minimize repairs. Whether you’re looking for newly built or existing homes, both have their perks.

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Will hemp homes solve the building material shortage?

Realty Biz

Sky rocketing prices for building materials have been a common complaint from home builders over the past year. The costs of lumber, steel and concrete have all soared, and now some are promoting the idea of hemp as a more affordable alternative. Hemp does contain cannabis, but the concentration of THC is much, much lower so it has never been used as a recreational drug.

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Accelerating Real Estate Sales Pipelines to Streamline Buyer Journeys

Navigated 360° tours, like YourVRTours, advance pipelines by engaging clients further along the sales funnel. These immersive experiences provide comprehensive property insights, increasing buyer intent and readiness. By embracing navigated tours, agents can optimize property exposure, better qualify leads, and streamline the sales process. Stay ahead in the ever-evolving real estate landscape with innovative technology that elevates buyer journeys and progresses pipelines more effectively.

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Upgrade Your Space with This DIY Mirror Organizer!

Homes.com

Don't know what to do with that old door mirror? Upcycle it into functional storage with this DIY mirror organizer tutorial! The post Upgrade Your Space with This DIY Mirror Organizer! appeared first on Homes.com.

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Mortgage lenders are loosening standards on jumbos

Housing Wire

Banks moved to ease lending standards for most mortgage loan products during the second quarter, according to a loan officer opinion survey published this week by the Federal Reserve Board. The quarterly survey found that banks loosened their underwriting standards most notably for jumbo products, including qualified mortgages (QM), jumbo mortgages and non-QM jumbo mortgages.

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Play Ball! 4 Homes with Bocce Courts

Sotheby's International Real Estate

A rousing game of bocce—on a private court just steps from a home filled with sophisticated spaces and luxurious amenities—is the perfect way to pass some time alfresco during the last warm weeks of summer. Wine Country Compound. Kenwood, California | Tina Shone, Sotheby’s International Realty – Wine Country – East Napa Street Brokerage. Home to five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines, olive and fruit trees, and gardens, this delightful 10-acre compound in Kenwood features a charming five-b

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Cool Listings: A $9.95 Million Starship-Like Home Celebrates Both the Future & the Past

Fancy Pants Homes

A striking architectural home — that looks like it was created as a home base for captain Kirk (or maybe Picard?) — recently came to market near the Sun Valley resort town in Idaho. Aptly called the Sun Valley Starship, the unique property towers above a manmade pond with its imposing concrete, steel, glass and reclaimed antique wood structure.

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Maximizing Your Online Presence: Tips for Real Estate Agents on Social Media

Speaker: Sarah Santa Ana, Real Estate Coach, Move4Free Realty

Networking is one of the crucial elements in every real estate organization's success. Both agents and real estate companies need to maintain robust networking links. This is why social media is essential for any real estate professional! Social media enables you to stay in touch with your present clients, maintain connections with your past clients, and engage potential customers and investors.

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New Zealand’s Central Bank Readies To Tighten Mortgage Lending Even Further

Better Dwelling

New Zealand’s central bank is considering tightening mortgage lending standards even further. In June the New Zealand Government gave the Reserve Bank the green light to tighten lending. This morning, they announced they’ll consider a series of new measures in October. The big changes they’ll consider are further limits to high loan-to-value ratio (LVR) borrowing, […].

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Drones, 5g, and VR dot future of real estate tech

Housing Wire

Cyber security , 5G, drones and virtual reality are the technological developments expected to have the biggest impact on real estate in the next two years, according to a National Association of Realtors survey. The survey also found that 36% percent of agents spend $50-$250 per month on technology, while 23% spend more than $500. The figures released Tuesday stem from 3,104 online responses to a June survey of NAR members.

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New & Notable Luxury Homes For Sale Over $20m | August 2021

Sotheby's International Real Estate

From a historic farm house in Portugal to waterfront Nantucket escape, these are this month’s four featured notable properties for sale over $20 million. Portugal. Portugal Sotheby’s International Realty. Quinta da Abrigada is a monument with more than five centuries of history, purchased in 1534 by the ancestors of the current owners to Fernando Alvares Cabral, son of the navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral.

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Viva – the startup that gives renters equity as they rent

The American Genius for Real Estate

(TECHNOLOGY) Viva launched as a pretty brilliant model - give renters back equity as they rent, foster future buyers, and build a property portfolio. The post Viva – the startup that gives renters equity as they rent appeared first on The American Genius Real Estate.

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The Broker Action Plan for the Post-NAR Lawsuit Landscape

Now more than ever, brokers need to provide agents with the right tools, strategies, and training to effectively demonstrate their expertise, negotiate successfully, and foster strong client relationships. So – what should brokers do to ensure this? Invest in the right technology, continuous education, and innovative marketing strategies that empower agents to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

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The Property Brothers Reveal the Latest Kitchen Upgrade That’s All the Rage

Realtor.com

Drew and Jonathan Scott help one couple combine their styles on the latest episode of "Property Brothers: Forever Home.". The post The Property Brothers Reveal the Latest Kitchen Upgrade That’s All the Rage appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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Fintech firm CredEvolv wants to revamp credit counseling

Housing Wire

Instead of waiting for credit standards for agency-backed mortgages to relax, two industry veterans are launching a startup to help credit-impaired borrowers rise to meet them. Jeff Walker and Steve Romano founded CredEvolv , a startup that facilitates credit counseling in order to transform borrowers that were declined credit into mortgage-ready leads for lenders.

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This $70 Million Contemporary Marvel Reimagines Luxury Living for the 21st Century

Fancy Pants Homes

For the longest time, luxury homes were synonymous with opulence, deriving their worth from their lavish interiors, massive scale, and over-the-top features. But gone are the days when oversized crystal chandeliers were crowning living spaces and imposing staircases with intricate wrought-iron railings were the pinnacle of luxury. Modern luxury is devoted to the creation of beauty and function, with livable, inviting spaces dethroning Gilded Age-worthy interiors and overt opulence.

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Can you explain the escrow and title processes to your buyers and sellers?

Easy Agent Pro

For sellers, the real estate process is full of confusing processes, from choosing an agent to the final handshake. Buyers have their share of headaches too… Take insurance, for instance. There’s PMI and MIP, homeowners insurance and title insurance. The average real estate consumer knows little about many of these processes, leaving it up to agents to educate them.

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Rise of The Apps: Building Your Dream Tech Stack For Real Estate Success

Speaker: Trey Willard, Realtor/Team Leader at Keller Williams Realty, Inc.

In order to create continued success in today’s real estate market, realtors need to utilize an arsenal of technology that will increase their efficiency and presence on social media. Using technology to manage your prospects and tap into their needs through websites, social media, and other channels is critical for real estate success in 2022 and beyond.